Tintin might be better associated with Belgium, but there is a tiny shop hidden on a side street in Covent Garden dedicated to the crafty Belgian journalist (and his dog Snowy). The Tintin Shop is a cosy space (definitely not as spacious as Captain Haddock’s Marlinspike Hall), but it is packed with plenty of gifts to keep Tintin fans young and old happy.

The Tintin books (both printed in French and English) are the centrepiece – hardcover editions, special collectors’ books and Tintin art books pack the shelves. For fans who know all of Tintin’s adventures by heart, there are other items like t-shirts, coffee cups, framed posters and stuffed Snowy dolls to keep everyone pleased. For serious collectors, there are special figurines which can cost hundreds of pounds, but who wouldn’t want the Thompson twins or Professor Calculus sitting on their desks?